1
皇甫遇，常山人也。 父武，流寓太原，嘗為遮塞軍使。 遇少好勇，及壯，虬髯，善騎射。 唐明宗在藩時，隸於麾下，累從戰有功。 明宗即位，遷龍武都指揮使，遙領嚴州刺史，出討東川，為行營左軍都指揮使。 應順、清泰中，累歷團練防禦使，尋遷鄧州節度使。 所至苛暴，以誅斂為務，其幕客多私去，以避其累。 高祖入洛，移領中山，俄聞與鎮州安重榮為婚家，乃移鎮上黨，又改平陽，咸以憸人執事，政事隳紊。 及鎮河陽，部內創別業，開畎水泉，以通溉灌，所經墳墓悉毀之，部民以朝廷方姑息郡帥，莫之敢訴。 少帝即位，罷歸闕下。 二年，契丹南寇，從至澶州，戰於鄆州北津，契丹眾大敗，溺死者數千人，以功拜滑州節度使。 三年，契丹率眾屯邯鄲，遇與安審琦、慕容彥超等禦之。 遇將渡漳河，契丹前鋒大至，遇引退，轉鬥二十里至鄴南榆林店。 遇謂審琦等曰：「彼眾我寡，走無生路，不如血戰。」 遂自辰及未，戰百餘合，所傷甚眾。 遇所乘馬中鏑而斃，遇有紀綱杜知敏以馬授遇，遇得馬復戰，久之稍解。 杜知敏已為所獲，遇謂彥超曰：「知敏蒼黃之中，以馬授我，義也，安可使陷於賊中！」 遂與彥超躍馬取知敏而還，敵騎壯之。 俄而生軍復合，遇不能解。 時審琦已至安陽河，謂首將張從恩曰：「皇甫遇等未至，必為敵騎所圍，若不急救，則成擒矣。」 從恩曰：「敵甚盛，無以枝梧，將軍獨往何益？」 審琦曰：「成敗命也。 設若不濟，則與之俱死。 假令失此二將，將何面目以見天子！」 遂率鐵騎北渡赴之。 契丹見塵起，謂救軍並至，乃引去。 遇與彥超中數創得還，時諸軍嘆曰：「此三人皆猛將也！」 遇累官至檢校太師、同中書門下平章事。 四年，契丹復至，從杜重威營滹水，重威送款於契丹，遇不預其議，及降，心不平之。 時契丹欲遣遇先入汴，遇辭之，因私謂人曰：「我身荷國恩，位兼將相，既不能死於軍陣，何顏以見舊主！ 更受命圖之，所不忍也。」 明日，行至趙郡，泊其縣舍，顧從者曰：「我已信宿不食，疾甚矣，主辱臣死，無復南行。」 因絕吭而殞，遠近聞而義之。 漢高祖登極，詔贈中書令。
Huang Fuyu was from Changshan. His father, Wu, had settled in Taiyuan as a transient and had once served as commissioner of the blockade and garrison forces. From youth Huang Fuyu loved boldness; in manhood he wore curling whiskers and was an expert horseman and archer. When Emperor Mingzong of Tang was still in his princely domain, Huang Fuyu entered his service and repeatedly distinguished himself in battle. After Mingzong took the throne, Huang Fuyu was promoted to commander-in-chief of the Dragon Martial Guard, given nominal charge of Yan prefecture, sent to campaign against Dongchuan, and made commander-in-chief of the left wing of the expeditionary force. During the Yingshun and Qingtai reign periods he served in succession as militia training and defense commissioner, and soon afterward was transferred to military governor of Deng. Everywhere he served he was brutal and violent, making extortion his chief occupation, and many on his staff slipped away privately to escape being dragged into his abuses. When Emperor Gaozu entered Luoyang, Huang Fuyu was transferred to Zhongshan; soon word came that he had formed a marriage alliance with An Chongrong of Zhen prefecture, so he was shifted to Shangdang and then to Pingyang. In each place scheming men ran affairs and government collapsed into disorder. When he was posted at Heyang, he established private estates within his jurisdiction, opened ditches and springs for irrigation, and destroyed every grave in his path. The people dared not appeal because the court was then indulgent toward regional governors. When the Young Emperor came to the throne, Huang Fuyu was recalled to the capital and relieved of command. In the second year, when the Khitans invaded the south, he accompanied the court to Chanzou. At the northern crossing of Yan prefecture the Khitan force was routed and thousands drowned. For this he was appointed military governor of Hua. In the third year the Khitans massed at Handan, and Huang Fuyu, An Shenqi, Murong Yanchao, and others went out to oppose them. As Huang Fuyu was about to cross the Zhang River, the Khitan vanguard closed in. He pulled back, fighting continuously for twenty li until he reached Yulin Post south of Ye. Huang Fuyu said to Shenqi and the others, "They outnumber us; retreat means death. We had better fight to the last drop of blood." From the hour of chen until that of wei they fought more than a hundred engagements, and casualties on both sides were very heavy. The horse Huang Fuyu was riding was struck by an arrow and killed. His retainer Du Zhimin gave him his own mount; Huang Fuyu remounted and fought on, and after a long while the pressure eased slightly. Du Zhimin had already been taken. Huang Fuyu said to Yanchao, "In the heat of battle Zhimin gave me his horse — that was an act of loyalty. We cannot leave him in enemy hands!" He and Yanchao then spurred their horses forward, snatched Zhimin back, and returned; the enemy horsemen were impressed. Before long the Khitan force closed ranks again, and Huang Fuyu could not break free. By then Shenqi had reached the Anyang River and said to the chief commander Zhang Cong'en, "Huang Fuyu and the others have not yet arrived; they must be surrounded by enemy cavalry. If we do not rescue them immediately, they will be taken." Cong'en said, "The enemy is too strong; we cannot hold them. What good would it do for you, General, to go alone?" Shenqi said, "Success or failure is a matter of fate. If we fail, I shall die with them. If we lose these two generals, how can we face the emperor!" He then led his armored cavalry north across the river to their relief. When the Khitans saw the dust rising, they thought the full relief force had arrived and withdrew. Huang Fuyu and Yanchao returned with several wounds; the armies at the time exclaimed, "These three are fierce generals!" Huang Fuyu rose through the ranks to honorary Grand Master and Associate Director of the Department of State Affairs with the Chancellery. In the fourth year the Khitans returned. Huang Fuyu followed Du Chongwei's encampment on the Hutuo River. Chongwei opened surrender negotiations with the Khitans; Huang Fuyu had not been party to the decision, and when the surrender came he was deeply resentful. The Khitans then wished to send Huang Fuyu ahead into Bian first. He declined and said privately to others, "I have personally received the state's favor and hold the rank of general and minister together. Having failed to die on the battlefield, how can I face my former sovereign! To accept a new commission and plot against him is more than I can bear." The next day, as he reached Zhao Commandery and stopped at the county seat, he told his attendants, "I have eaten nothing for two nights; my illness is grave. When the sovereign is disgraced, the minister must die — I go no farther south." He then cut his throat and died; all who heard of it, near and far, honored his act. When Emperor Gaozu of Han took the throne, an edict posthumously enfeoffed him as Director of the Department of State Affairs.
2
周廣順三年正月，遇妻宋國夫人霍氏上言，請度為尼，周太祖許之，仍賜紫衣，號貞範大師，法名惠圓，又賜夏臘十。
In the first month of the third year of Guangshun under the Zhou, Huang Fuyu's wife, Lady Huo of the State of Song, petitioned to be ordained as a nun. Emperor Taizu of Zhou granted it, bestowed purple robes upon her, gave her the title Great Master of Chaste Exemplar and the religious name Huiyuan, and granted ten summer offerings as well.
3
王清，字去瑕，洺州曲周人也。 父度，世為農。 清少以勇力端厚稱於鄉里。 後唐明宗領行臺，置步直軍，清預其募，漸升為小校。 同光初，從戰於河上有功，賜忠烈功臣。 明宗即位，自天成至清泰末，歷嚴衛、寧衛指揮使，加檢校右散騎常侍。 天福元年，高祖建義入洛，加檢校刑部尚書，改賜扈蹕忠孝功臣。 三年，從楊光遠平範延光於鄴，改奉國軍都虞候。 六年，襄州安從進叛，從高行周討之，逾年不下。 一日，清請先登，諸軍繼其後，會有內應者，遂拔其城。 清以中重創，有詔褒慰。 七年，改賜推忠保運功臣，加金紫光祿大夫，領溪州刺史。 八年，詔遣以所部兵屯於鄴。 九年春，契丹南牧，圍其城，清與張從恩守之，少帝飛蠟詔勉諭，錫之第宅。 契丹退，以幹城功，繼遷軍額。 開運二年春三月，從杜重威北征，解陽城之圍，加檢校司徒。 是歲秋七月，詔遣與皇甫遇援糧入易州。 十一月，從杜重威收瀛州，聞契丹大至，重威率諸軍沿滹水而西，將保常山，及至中渡橋，契丹已屯於北岸。 自其月二十七日至十二月五日，軍不能解。 時契丹至，留騎之精者以禦我，分其弱者，自故靈都城緣其山足，涉滹沱之淺處，引眾而南，至趙郡，凡百餘里，斷我飛免，且扼歸路。 清知勢蹙，謂重威曰：「軍去常山五里，守株於此，營孤食盡，將若之何！ 請以步兵二千為前鋒，奪橋開路，公可率諸軍繼之，期入常山，必濟矣。」 重威可之，遣宋彥筠俱行。 清一擊獲其橋，契丹為之小卻，重威猶豫不進，密已貳於國矣。 彥筠退走，清列陣北岸，嚴戒部曲。 日暮，酣戰不息。 契丹以生軍繼至，我軍無寸刃以益之，清與其下歿焉，時年五十三。 〈（《通鑒》：清謂其眾曰：「上將握兵，坐觀吾輩困急而不救，此必有異志。 吾輩當以死報國耳！」 眾感其言，莫有退者，至幕，戰不息。 契丹以新兵繼之，清及眾士盡死，由是諸軍皆奪氣。）〉 契丹尋於所戰之地，築一京觀。 及漢高祖即位，使人平之，贈清太傅。 是歲，清子守鈞於本邑義化別業，招魂以葬之也。
Wang Qing, styled Quxia, was from Quzhou in Ming prefecture. His father Du came from a farming family for generations. From youth Wang Qing was known in his village for courage, strength, and upright steadiness. When Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang held the mobile headquarters, he established the Foot Guard Army; Wang Qing joined the recruitment and gradually rose to junior officer. At the beginning of the Tongguang era he fought on the Yellow River front with distinction and was granted the title Meritorious Loyal and Fierce Servitor. After Mingzong took the throne, from the Tiancheng through the Qingtai periods he served in succession as commander of the Yan and Ning Guards and was promoted to honorary Right Regular Attendant-in-Ordinary. In the first year of Tianfu, when Emperor Gaozu raised the banner of righteousness and entered Luoyang, Wang Qing was promoted to honorary Minister of Justice and given the new title Meritorious Escort and Filial Piety Servitor. In the third year he followed Yang Guangyuan in pacifying Fan Yanguang at Ye and was transferred to chief adjutant of the Fengguo Army. In the sixth year An Congjin of Xiangzhou rebelled; Wang Qing followed Gao Xingzhou to suppress him, and after more than a year the city still had not fallen. One day Wang Qing asked to lead the assault; the other armies followed behind him. There were collaborators within, and the city was taken. Wang Qing was seriously wounded in the assault; an edict praised and comforted him. In the seventh year his title was changed to Meritorious Promoter of Loyalty and Guardian of Transport Servitor, he was promoted to Grand Master of the Gold Purple Light, and given nominal charge of Xi prefecture. In the eighth year an edict ordered him to encamp with his troops at Ye. In the spring of the ninth year the Khitans raided south and besieged the city. Wang Qing and Zhang Cong'en held it. The Young Emperor sent urgent sealed edicts to encourage them and granted them residences. When the Khitans withdrew, for his merit in holding the city he was transferred in succession to a new army designation. In the second month of the second year of Kaiyun he followed Du Chongwei on the northern expedition, lifted the siege of Yangcheng, and was promoted to honorary Minister of Works. In the seventh month of that autumn an edict dispatched him with Huang Fuyu to escort grain into Yi prefecture. In the eleventh month he followed Du Chongwei in taking Ying prefecture. Hearing that the Khitans had arrived in force, Chongwei led the armies west along the Hutuo River intending to hold Changshan; when they reached Zhongdu Bridge the Khitans were already encamped on the north bank. From the twenty-seventh day of that month to the fifth day of the twelfth month the army could not break free. When the Khitans arrived they left their finest cavalry to hold the army in check and sent the weaker part from the old Lingdu City along the foothills, crossing the shallows of the Hutuo and marching south to Zhao Commandery — more than a hundred li in all — cutting courier routes and blocking the line of retreat. Seeing the situation was critical, Wang Qing said to Chongwei, "Changshan is only five li away. To sit here like a stump while the camp is isolated and provisions run out — what then! Let me take two thousand infantry as vanguard to seize the bridge and open the road; you can lead the main force after us. If we reach Changshan as planned, we shall succeed." Chongwei agreed and sent Song Yanyun to go with him. With one assault Wang Qing seized the bridge and the Khitans gave ground slightly; Chongwei hesitated and did not advance — secretly he had already turned traitor. Yanyun retreated in flight; Wang Qing formed battle lines on the north bank and strictly warned his troops. At dusk the fierce fighting did not cease. The Khitans sent fresh troops in succession; the army had not a single blade more to reinforce them. Wang Qing and his men died there; he was fifty-three years old. (《Zizhi Tongjian》: Wang Qing said to his troops, "The supreme commander holds the army yet sits watching us in dire straits without rescuing us — he must have other designs. We should repay the state with our deaths!" The troops were moved by his words; none retreated; they fought without ceasing until night. The Khitans sent fresh troops in succession; Wang Qing and all his officers and men perished; because of this the various armies all lost heart.)〉 The Khitans soon built a victory mound at the battlefield. When Emperor Gaozu of Han took the throne, he sent men to level it and posthumously enfeoffed Wang Qing as Grand Tutor. That year Wang Qing's son Shoujun performed a soul-summoning rite at the Yihua estate in their home district and buried him.
4
梁漢璋，字國寶，應州人也。 少以勇力事唐明宗，歷突騎、奉德指揮使。 高祖即位之二年，遙領欽州刺史。 三年，加檢校司空，改護聖都指揮使。 七年，遷檢校司徒，遙領閬州團練使。 八年，授陳州防禦使，從少帝澶州還，改檢校太保、鄭州防禦使，充侍衛馬軍都指揮使，旋除永清軍兵馬留後，俄正授節制。 是歲，詔領千騎戍冀州，尋以杜重威北討，詔以漢璋充北面馬軍都排陣使，遣收淤口關，與契丹騎五千相遇於浮陽之北界，苦戰竟日，以眾寡不侔，為流矢所中，歿於陣，即是歲十一月也，時年四十九。 漢璋熟於戎馬，累有軍功，及為藩郡，所至好聚斂，無善政可紀。 及鎮甘陵，甚有平契丹之志，但以所領偏師，驟逢敵，故有是衄焉。 是月，其子海榮進漢璋所乘鞭馬及器仗，帝傷之，乃贈太尉。
Liang Hanzhang, styled Guobao, was from Ying prefecture. From youth he served Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang for his courage and strength and successively commanded the Shock Cavalry and Fengde Guards. In the second year after Emperor Gaozu took the throne he was given nominal charge of Qin prefecture. In the third year he was promoted to honorary Minister of Works and transferred to commander-in-chief of the Imperial Guard. In the seventh year he was transferred to honorary Minister of Works and given nominal charge of Lang prefecture as militia training commissioner. In the eighth year he was appointed defense commissioner of Chen prefecture. Returning from Chanzou with the Young Emperor, he was made honorary Grand Guardian and defense commissioner of Zheng prefecture, appointed commander-in-chief of the Palace Horse Guard, soon given military commissioner of the Yongqing Army, and shortly afterward confirmed as full military governor. That year an edict ordered him to lead a thousand cavalry to garrison Ji prefecture. Soon, on Du Chongwei's northern campaign, an edict appointed Hanzhang chief array marshal of the northern horse army and sent him to recover Yankou Pass. He met five thousand Khitan cavalry at the northern border of Fuyang and fought bitterly all day. Outnumbered, he was struck by a stray arrow and died in the line — it was the eleventh month of that year; he was forty-nine. Hanzhang was skilled in military affairs and had repeated battlefield merit; as a regional governor he loved to amass wealth wherever he went, and nothing in his governance is worth recording. When he governed Ganling he was strongly determined to pacify the Khitans, but leading only a detached force he suddenly met the enemy and suffered this defeat. That month his son Hairong presented Hanzhang's riding whip, horse, and weapons and armor; the emperor grieved and posthumously enfeoffed him as Grand Commandant.
5
漢璋有弟漢瑭，亦以善用槊有名於時。 天成中，為魏府效節軍使，攻定州王都，漢瑭督所部一軍首入其城，獲王都及蕃將托諾名馬數駟。 時範延光鎮常山，欲其駿者，漢瑭不諾。 後漢瑭屯兵趙郡，因事奏而殺之，時人冤之。
Hanzhang had a younger brother Hantang who was also famed at the time for skill with the spear. During Tiancheng he was commissioner of the Xiaojie Army of Wei prefecture. Attacking Wang Du at Ding prefecture, Hantang led his unit as the first to enter the city and captured Wang Du and several famous horses belonging to the barbarian general Tuo Nuo. At the time Fan Yanguang governed Changshan and wanted the finest horses; Hantang refused. Later Hantang encamped at Zhao Commandery; Fan Yanguang found a pretext to memorialize the court and have him killed; people at the time considered it unjust.
6
白奉進，字德升，雲州清塞軍人也。 父曰達子，世居朔野，以弋獵為事。 奉進少善騎射，後唐武皇鎮太原，奉進謁於軍門，以求自效，武皇納於麾下。 莊宗之破夾寨也，奉進挺身首犯賊鋒，莊宗睹而壯之。 後從戰山東河上，繼以功遷龍武指揮使。 同光中，魏王繼岌伐蜀，擢為親軍指揮使。 天成、長興中，統上軍，加檢校右散騎常侍。 應順中，轉捧聖右廂都指揮使、檢校刑部尚書，賜忠順保義功臣，遙領封州刺史。 清泰中，加檢校右僕射、唐州刺史，治郡逾年，甚有政績。 高祖即位，征赴闕，超加檢校司徒，充護聖左廂都指揮使，遙領歙州刺史。 始奉進有女嫁於皇子重信，故高祖尤所倚愛。 二年，改護聖左右廂都指揮使。 是歲，車駕幸夷門。 五月，領昭信軍節度，充侍衛馬軍都指揮使。 六月，範延光據鄴為亂，詔遣率騎軍三千北屯滑臺。 時符彥饒為滑州節度使，一夕，有軍士夜掠居人，奉進捕之，凡獲五盜，三在奉進本軍，二在彥饒麾下，尋命俱斬之。 彥饒怒其不先告，深銜之。 明日，奉進左右勸奉進面謝，奉進然之，以從騎數人候彥饒於牙城，既入，且述其過。 彥饒曰：「軍中法令，各有部分，何得將滑州兵士一例處斬，殊無主客之義乎！」 奉進曰：「軍士抵法，寧有彼我，今仆以咎自陳，而公怒不息，莫是與範延光同反耶！」 因拂衣而起，彥饒不留。 其帳下介士大噪，擒奉進殺之。 是日，步軍都校馬萬、次校盧順密聞奉進遇害，率其步眾攻滑之子城，執彥饒送於京師，戮於班荊館北。 高祖以奉進倉卒遇禍，嘆惜久之，詔贈太傅。
Bai Fengjin, styled Desheng, was from the Qingsai Army in Yun prefecture. His father was named Dazi; the family had lived for generations on the northern frontier and made their living by hunting with bow and arrow. From youth Fengjin was skilled at horseback riding and archery. When the Martial Emperor of Later Tang governed Taiyuan, Fengjin presented himself at the army gate seeking service, and the Martial Emperor took him into his command. When Emperor Zhuangzong broke the encircled camps, Fengjin was the first to charge the enemy vanguard; Zhuangzong saw this and admired his valor. Later he fought east of the mountains and on the Yellow River and was repeatedly promoted for merit to commander of the Dragon Martial Guard. During Tongguang, when the Prince of Wei Jiji attacked Shu, he was promoted to commander of the personal guard. During Tiancheng and Changxing he commanded the upper army and was promoted to honorary Right Regular Attendant-in-Ordinary. During Yingshun he was transferred to commander of the right wing of the Fengsheng Guard and honorary Minister of Justice, granted the title Loyal and Obedient Preserver of Righteousness Servitor, and given nominal charge of Feng prefecture. During Qingtai he was promoted to honorary Right Vice Director and prefect of Tang prefecture; governing the prefecture for more than a year he achieved very good results. When Emperor Gaozu took the throne he was summoned to court, promoted beyond the usual to honorary Minister of Works, appointed commander of the left wing of the Imperial Guard, and given nominal charge of She prefecture. Fengjin had earlier given a daughter in marriage to the prince Chongxin, so Emperor Gaozu especially relied upon and favored him. In the second year he was made commander of both wings of the Imperial Guard. That year the imperial carriage visited Yimen. In the fifth month he was given nominal charge of the Zhaoxin Army and appointed commander-in-chief of the Palace Horse Guard. In the sixth month Fan Yanguang held Ye in rebellion; an edict dispatched him to lead three thousand cavalry north to encamp at Huatai. At the time Fu Yanrao was military governor of Hua prefecture. One night soldiers plundered the populace; Fengjin captured them — five thieves in all, three from his own army and two from Yanrao's command — and soon ordered all beheaded. Yanrao was angry that he had not been informed beforehand and deeply resented the affront. The next day Fengjin's attendants urged him to apologize in person. He agreed, and with several mounted followers waited for Yanrao at the headquarters gate. Once inside, he also explained his fault. Yanrao said, "Military law in the army has its respective jurisdictions — how could you execute Hua prefecture soldiers indiscriminately, with no regard for the propriety between host and guest!" Fengjin said, "When soldiers violate the law, there is no 'them' and 'us.' I come to confess my fault, yet your anger does not cease — are you rebelling along with Fan Yanguang!" He then shook out his robes and rose; Yanrao did not detain him. The guard soldiers under his command raised a great clamor, seized Fengjin, and killed him. That day the foot army commander Ma Wan and the second commander Lu Shunmi, hearing that Fengjin had been killed, led their foot troops to attack the inner city of Hua, seized Yanrao, and sent him to the capital, where he was executed north of Banjing Lodge. Emperor Gaozu, because Fengjin had met with sudden calamity, sighed in regret for a long time and issued an edict posthumously enfeoffing him as Grand Tutor.
7
盧順密，汶陽人也。 初事梁將戴思遠為步校。 思遠為鄆州節度使，領部兵屯德勝渡，留順密守其城，順密睹北軍日盛，遂遁歸莊宗，且言鄆城方虛，可以襲而取之。 莊宗信之，尋遣明宗率眾趨鄆，果拔之，由順密之始謀也。 莊宗尋以順密列於帳下，累遷為軍校。 明宗即位，歷數郡刺史。 順密性篤厚，臨諸軍，撫百姓，皆有仁愛之譽。 及高祖車駕幸夷門，範延光據鄴城叛，高祖命諸將相次領軍討之，順密亦預其行。 時騎將白奉進屯於滑州，尋為滑帥符彥饒所殺，軍眾大亂，爭荷戈拔刃，啖呼於外，時馬萬為步軍都校，不為遏之。 〈（《通鑒》云：馬萬惶惑不知所為，率步兵欲從亂。）〉 順密未明其心，乃率部曲數百，趨謂諸軍及萬曰：「滑臺去行闕二百里，我等家屬在闕下，爾輩如此，不思血族乎？ 奉進見殺，過在彥饒，擒送天子，必立大功。 順我者賞之，不順我者殺之。」 萬曰：「善。」 諸軍遂不敢動。 〈（《通鑒》云：萬所部兵尚有呼躍者，順密殺數人，眾莫敢動。）〉 乃引軍北攻牙城，執彥饒於樓上，使裨將方太押送赴闕，滑城遂定。 朝廷即以馬萬為滑州節度使，時飛奏皆以萬為首故也。 後數日，高祖知功由順密，尋以順密為涇州留後，至鎮未幾而卒。 高祖甚悼之，贈驍衛上將軍。
Lu Shunmi was from Wenyang. At first he served the Later Liang general Dai Siyuan as a foot officer. When Siyuan was military governor of Yan prefecture, he led his troops to encamp at Desheng Crossing and left Shunmi to defend the city. Shunmi saw the northern armies growing stronger daily, fled back to Zhuangzong, and reported that Yan City was then undefended and could be taken by surprise. Zhuangzong believed him and soon dispatched Mingzong to lead the army toward Yan; they indeed took it — this was due to Shunmi's original plan. Zhuangzong soon placed Shunmi in his personal command and promoted him in succession to army officer. When Mingzong ascended the throne, he successively served as prefect of several prefectures. Shunmi was by nature sincere and generous; in commanding armies and comforting the people he earned a reputation for benevolence. When Emperor Gaozu's imperial carriage visited Yimen and Fan Yanguang held Ye City in rebellion, the emperor ordered the generals in succession to lead armies to suppress him; Shunmi also took part in the expedition. At the time the cavalry general Bai Fengjin was encamped at Hua prefecture and was soon killed by the Hua commander Fu Yanrao. The army fell into great disorder, shouldering spears and drawing blades and shouting outside. Ma Wan was foot army commander at the time and did not restrain them. (The Zizhi Tongjian states: Ma Wan was confused and did not know what to do; he led the foot soldiers intending to join the disorder.)〉 Shunmi had not yet understood his intent and therefore led several hundred of his personal troops, hastening to say to the various armies and to Wan, "Huatai is two hundred li from the traveling palace; our families are at the capital — if you act like this, do you not think of your blood kin! Fengjin was killed; the fault lies with Yanrao. Seize him and send him to the emperor — you will surely achieve great merit. Those who follow me I shall reward; those who do not follow me I shall kill." Wan said, "Good." The various armies then did not dare to move. (The Zizhi Tongjian states: Among the troops under Wan's command there were still some shouting and leaping; Shunmi killed several men and the masses did not dare to move.)〉 He then led the army north to attack the headquarters, seized Yanrao on the tower, and had the subordinate general Fang Tai escort him to the capital; Hua City was then settled. The court immediately appointed Ma Wan as military governor of Hua prefecture — at the time urgent memorials all listed Wan first for this reason. Several days later Emperor Gaozu learned that the merit was due to Shunmi and soon appointed Shunmi acting commissioner of Jing prefecture; after reaching his post he died before long. Emperor Gaozu deeply mourned him and posthumously enfeoffed him as General-in-Chief of the Valiant Guard.
8
周瑰，晉陽人也。 少端厚，善書計，自高祖時歷鎮藩翰，用為腹心，累職至牙門都校，凡帑廩出納，咸以委瑰，經十餘年，未嘗以微累見誤，高祖甚重之。 及即位，命權判三司事，未幾，辭曰：「臣才輕任重，懼終不濟，茍以避事，冒寵獲罪。 願陛下哀其疲駑，優以散秩，臣之幸也。」 高祖可之。 尋命權總河陽三城事，數月改授安州節度使。 臨民有惠，禦軍甚嚴，一境安之。 先是，威和指揮使王暉領部下兵屯於安陸，瑰至鎮，待之甚厚。 俄聞範延光叛於魏博，張延賓寇於汜水，暉以瑰高祖之元臣也，幸國朝方危，遂害瑰於理所，自總州事，以為延光勝則附之，敗則渡江而遁，斯其計也。 既而襄陽安從進遣行軍司馬張朏，會復州兵於要路以僥之，李金全承詔繼至，暉遂掠城中財帛士女，欲奔江南，尋為其下所殺。 金全至，盡誅其黨。 高祖聞瑰遇害，嘆息久之，詔贈太傅。
Zhou Gui was from Jinyang. From youth he was upright and steady and skilled at writing and reckoning. From Emperor Gaozu's time he successively served in regional governorships as a trusted confidant, rising to commander of the Gate Guard. All treasury receipts and disbursements were entrusted to him — for more than ten years he was never once faulted for minor errors, and the emperor greatly valued him. When the emperor ascended the throne, he was ordered to serve provisionally as director of the Three Departments. Before long he declined, saying, "Your servant's talent is light and his burden heavy; I fear I shall ultimately not succeed. If I avoid affairs while accepting favor, I shall incur guilt for presumption. I beg Your Majesty to pity my worn-out nag and grant me an honorary rank — that would be my good fortune." The emperor granted this. Soon he was ordered to provisionally oversee the affairs of the three cities of Heyang; several months later he was transferred and appointed military governor of An prefecture. In dealing with the people he showed kindness; in commanding the army he was very strict — the whole territory was at peace. Earlier, the Weihe commander Wang Hui led his subordinate troops to encamp at Anlu; when Gui reached his post he treated him very generously. Soon word came that Fan Yanguang had rebelled in Weibo and Zhang Yanbin was raiding at Sishui. Hui, because Gui was a founding minister of Emperor Gaozu and the dynasty was then in peril, killed Gui at the administrative office and himself assumed control of the prefecture, thinking that if Yanguang won he would attach himself to him, and if he lost he would cross the river and flee — such was his plan. Before long An Congjin of Xiangyang dispatched the campaign marshal Zhang Fei to join Fuzhou troops at a strategic point to intercept him; Li Jinquan arrived by imperial order in succession. Hui then plundered the city's wealth, goods, and women and intended to flee to Jiangnan; soon he was killed by his subordinates. When Jinquan arrived, he executed all his faction to the last man. Emperor Gaozu, hearing that Gui had met with disaster, sighed for a long time and issued an edict posthumously enfeoffing him as Grand Tutor.
9
沈赟，字安時，徐州下邳人。 少有膽氣，初事梁太祖為小校。 天祐三年，補同州左崇勇馬軍指揮使，入典衛兵，歷龍驤、拱宸都指揮使，累有戰功。 及莊宗平梁，隨段凝等降，不改其職。 同光三年，從魏王繼岌平蜀，屬康延孝叛，魏王署赟為一行馬步都虞候，領兵從任圜襲擊延孝於漢州，擒之以獻，未及策勛，會明宗登極。 天成初，授檢校司空、虢州刺史，其後歷壁、隨、石、衛、威、衍、忻、趙八州刺史，累官至檢校太保，賜輸忠宣力功臣。 開運元年，為祁州刺史。 其年冬，契丹入寇，自恒州回，以羸兵驅牛羊過其城下，赟乃出州兵以擊之，契丹以精騎剡其門邀之，州兵陷賊。 趙延壽知其無備，與蕃賊急攻之，仍呼謂赟曰：「沈使君我故人也，擇禍莫若輕，早以城降，無自辱也。」 赟登城呼曰：「侍中父子誤計，陷於契丹，忍以氈幕之眾，殘害父母之邦，不自羞慚，反有德色。 沈赟寧為國家死，必不效汝所為也。」 翌日城陷，赟自剄而卒，家屬為敵所擄。
Shen Yun, styled Anshi, was from Xiapi in Xu prefecture. From youth he had courage and spirit; at first he served Emperor Taizu of Later Liang as a junior officer. In the third year of Tianyou he was appointed commander of the Left Chongyong Horse Army of Tong prefecture, entered to manage palace guards, successively served as commander of the Dragon Soar and Arching Hall guards, and repeatedly distinguished himself in battle. When Zhuangzong pacified Liang, he followed Duan Ning and others in surrendering and kept his post unchanged. In the third year of Tongguang he followed the Prince of Wei Jiji in pacifying Shu. When Kang Yanxiao rebelled, the Prince of Wei appointed Yun chief adjutant of horse and foot for the expedition; he led troops with Ren Yuan to strike Yanxiao at Han prefecture and captured him to present. Before merit could be recorded, Mingzong ascended the throne. At the beginning of Tiancheng he was appointed honorary Minister of Works and prefect of Guo prefecture. Afterward he successively served as prefect of the eight prefectures Bi, Sui, Shi, Wei, Wei, Yan, Xin, and Zhao, rose through the ranks to honorary Grand Guardian, and was granted the title Servitor Who Conveys Loyalty and Displays Strength. In the first year of Kaiyun he was prefect of Qi prefecture. That winter the Khitans invaded. Returning from Heng prefecture, they drove cattle and sheep with weakened troops past below his city. Yun then sent out prefectural troops to strike them; the Khitans used elite cavalry to cut across his gate and intercept them, and the prefectural troops fell into enemy hands. Zhao Yanshou knew he was unprepared and, together with the barbarian bandits, pressed the attack urgently. He still called out to Yun, saying, "Commissioner Shen is my old acquaintance — choose the lighter of calamities; surrender the city early and do not disgrace yourself." Yun mounted the wall and called out, "The Vice Director and his son erred in their plan and fell into Khitan hands; they bear to use the felt-tent hordes to ravage the land of their fathers and mothers, without shame for themselves, yet show a countenance of virtue. Shen Yun would rather die for the state and will certainly not imitate what you do." The next day the city fell; Yun cut his own throat and died; his family was captured by the enemy.
10
吳巒，字寶川，汶陽盧縣人也。 少好學，以經業從鄉試下第。 唐長興初，為沙彥珣從事，累遷大同軍節度判官。 高祖建號，契丹之援太原也，彥珣據雲中，二三顧望，及契丹還塞，彥珣出城迎謁，尋為所擄。 時巒在城中，謂其眾曰：「豈有禮義之人而臣於異姓乎！」 即與雲州將吏闔門拒守。 契丹大怒，攻之，半歲不能下。 高祖致書於契丹，乃解圍而去。 召巒歸闕，授徐州節度使，再遷右諫議大夫，為復州防禦使，數年罷歸。 初，國家以甘陵水陸要沖之地，慮契丹南侵，乃飛免芻粟，以實其郡，為大軍累年之備。 王令溫之為帥也，有軍校邵珂者，性兇率悖慢，令溫因事使人代之，不復齒用，閑居城中。 其子殺人，以重賂償之，其事方解，尋為州吏所恐，又悉財以彌其口。 自是尤蓄怨恨，因使無賴者亡入契丹，言：「州有積粟，內無勁兵，圍而攻之，克之必矣。」 及令溫入朝，執政者以巒雲中之難，有善守之功，遂令乘軺而往，權知貝州軍州事。 既至，會大寒，軍士無衣者悉衣之，平生廉儉，囊無資用，以至壞帳幕以赒之，其推心撫士如此。 邵珂一見，因求自效，即聽而任之。 巒素為書生，旁無爪牙，珂慷慨自陳，願效死左右，巒遣督義兵，守城之南門。 天福九年正月，契丹大至。 其一日大噪環其城，明日陳攻具於四墉，三日契丹主躬率步奚及渤海夷等四面進攻。 巒眾投薪於夾城中，繼以炬火，敵之梯沖，焚爇殆盡。 是日，敵復合圍，郡中丁壯皆登城守陴。 俄而珂自南門引敵騎同入，巒守東門，未知其事，左右告曰：「邵珂背矣！」 巒顧城中已亂，即馳馬還公館，投井而死，契丹遂屠其城。 朝野士庶，聞者鹹嘆惜之。
Wu Luan, styled Baochuan, was from Lu County in Wenyang. From youth he loved learning; he took the district examination in the classics and failed. At the beginning of Changxing of Tang he served Sha Yanxun as an aide and was repeatedly promoted to administrative aide to the military governor of Datong. When Emperor Gaozu established his reign title, the Khitans came to aid Taiyuan. Yanxun held Yunzhong and wavered back and forth; when the Khitans returned to the frontier, Yanxun went out of the city to meet and pay respects and was soon captured by them. At the time Luan was in the city and said to his followers, "How can a man of ritual and righteousness serve an alien ruler!" He then together with the Yun prefecture generals and officials closed the gates and resisted in defense. The Khitans were greatly angered and attacked; for half a year they could not take it. Emperor Gaozu sent a letter to the Khitans, and they then lifted the siege and departed. Luan was summoned back to court and appointed military governor of Xu prefecture; he was transferred again to Right Remonstrating Censor and served as defense commissioner of Fu prefecture; after several years he was dismissed and returned. At first the state, because Ganling was a strategic place by land and water, feared Khitan southern invasion and therefore exempted fodder and grain taxes to fill the prefecture, making preparations for a large army over many years. When Wang Lingwen was commander, there was an army officer named Shao Ke who by nature was fierce, reckless, and insolent. Lingwen on a pretext sent someone to replace him and no longer employed him in rank; he lived idle in the city. His son killed a man; with heavy bribes the matter was just settled. Soon he was intimidated by prefectural clerks and again gave all his wealth to silence them. From this he especially harbored resentment; he therefore sent ruffians to flee into Khitan territory, saying, "The prefecture has stored grain; within there are no strong troops — surround and attack it and you will surely take it." When Lingwen entered court, the administrators, because Luan had endured the hardship at Yunzhong and had the merit of good defense, therefore ordered him to go by light carriage and provisionally govern the military and civil affairs of Bei prefecture. After he arrived, it happened to be bitter cold; he clothed all soldiers who had no garments. All his life he was frugal and plain, his purse had no funds for use, so much so that he tore up worn tent curtains to give relief — such was his wholehearted care for the troops. At first sight Shao Ke therefore requested to serve at his own initiative; Luan heard him and entrusted him with the task. Luan had always been a scholar and had no strong supporters at his side. Ke declared himself generously and volunteered to die at his side; Luan dispatched him to supervise the volunteer militia and defend the south gate of the city. In the first month of the ninth year of Tianfu the Khitans arrived in force. On the first day they raised a great clamor encircling the city; the next day they deployed siege engines on the four walls; on the third day the Khitan ruler personally led the steppe Xi and Bohai barbarians and others to attack from all four sides. Luan's forces threw firewood into the inter-wall space, followed by torch fire; the enemy's scaling ladders and battering rams were burned nearly to destruction. That day the enemy closed ranks again; all able-bodied men in the prefecture mounted the walls to defend the parapets. Before long Ke from the south gate led enemy cavalry in together. Luan was defending the east gate and did not yet know of the matter; his attendants reported, "Shao Ke has turned traitor!" Luan looked back and the city was already in disorder. He immediately spurred his horse back to the official residence, threw himself into a well, and died; the Khitans then massacred the city. Officials and commoners throughout the court and countryside, when they heard of it, all sighed in regret.
11
程福赟，未詳何許人也。 性沈厚，有勇力，累為軍校。 天福七年冬，杜重威討鎮州，與安重榮大戰於宗城，以功遷洺州團練使、檢校太保，未幾，入為奉國左廂都指揮使。 九年春，少帝將幸澶淵，福赟部下有軍士文榮等八人，潛謀作亂，於本營縱火，福赟尋領腹心之士撲滅之，福赟亦有所傷。 福赟性本純厚，又以車駕順動，秘而不奏。 同列李殷，居福赟下無名，欲危福赟以自升，遂密陳其事，云：「福赟若不為亂，何得無言？」 少帝至封丘，出福赟為商州刺史，尋下獄鞫之。 福赟終不自明，以至見殺，人甚冤之。
Cheng Fuyun — his place of origin is not recorded. By nature he was steady and generous, had courage and strength, and repeatedly served as army officer. In the winter of the seventh year of Tianfu, Du Chongwei campaigned against Zhen prefecture and fought a great battle with An Chongrong at Zongcheng. For merit he was transferred to militia training commissioner of Ming prefecture and honorary Grand Guardian; before long he entered court as commander of the left wing of the Fengguo Army. In the spring of the ninth year the Young Emperor was about to visit Chanyuan. Under Fuyun's command there were eight soldiers including Wen Rong who secretly plotted rebellion and set fire in their own camp; Fuyun soon led his trusted men to extinguish it and was also wounded. Fuyun was by nature originally pure and generous, and moreover because the imperial carriage was on the move, he kept it secret and did not report it. His colleague Li Yin, ranking below Fuyun without fame, wished to endanger Fuyun to promote himself and therefore secretly memorialized the matter, saying, "If Fuyun were not plotting rebellion, how could he say nothing?" When the Young Emperor reached Fengqiu, Fuyun was removed and made prefect of Shang prefecture; soon he was imprisoned and interrogated. Fuyun to the end did not clear himself and was therefore killed; people greatly considered it unjust.
12
郭璘，邢州人也。 初事後唐明宗，漸升為軍校。 天福中，為奉國指揮使，歷數郡刺史。 開運中，移領易州，契丹攻其郡，璘率厲士眾，同其甘苦，敵不能克。 復以州兵擊賊，數獲其利，朝廷嘉之，就加檢校太保。 契丹主嘗謂左右曰：「吾不畏一天下，乃為此人所抑挫！」 重威降，契丹使通事耿崇美誘其民眾，璘不能制，城既降，為崇美所害。 漢高祖即位，詔贈太傅。
Guo Lin was from Xing prefecture. At first he served Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang and gradually rose to army officer. During Tianfu he was commander of the Fengguo Army and successively served as prefect of several prefectures. During Kaiyun he was transferred to nominal charge of Yi prefecture. The Khitans attacked his prefecture; Lin led and encouraged the soldiers and masses, sharing their hardships; the enemy could not take it. Again with prefectural troops he struck the bandits and repeatedly gained advantage; the court praised this and on the spot added honorary Grand Guardian. The Khitan ruler once said to his attendants, "I fear not all under heaven — yet I am checked and frustrated by this man!" When Chongwei surrendered, the Khitans sent the interpreter Geng Chongmei to entice his populace; Lin could not control them. Once the city had surrendered, he was killed by Chongmei. When Emperor Gaozu of Han took the throne, an edict posthumously enfeoffed him as Grand Tutor.
13
史臣曰：觀前代人臣之事跡多矣，若乃世道方泰，則席寵恃祿者實繁； 世運既屯，則效死輸忠者無幾。 如皇甫遇憤激而沒，王清以血戰而亡，近世以來，幾人而已。 其或臨難捐軀，或守方遇害，比夫惑妖艷以喪其命，因醇酎以亡其身者，蓋相去之遠矣！ 唯順密遏滑臺之肇亂，救晉室之臨危，亦可謂之忠矣。
The historian says: Observing the deeds of ministers of former generations — there are many; when the age is prosperous, those who rely on favor and hold salary are indeed numerous; when the world's fortune is already troubled, those who devote their lives and offer loyalty are few. Such as Huang Fuyu dying in indignation and Wang Qing dying in bloody battle — in recent times, how many men have there been! Whether facing hardship and giving one's body, or defending a region and meeting with disaster — compared with those who lose their lives because of bewitching beauty, or lose their bodies because of strong wine, the distance between them is indeed far! Only Shunmi checked the initial disorder at Huatai and saved Later Jin in its hour of peril — he too can be called loyal.